Thought of the Day 10.23.08

“Would you like to come over to my house for a party?”

There are two thoughts most people have after hearing such a question, although politeness discourages asking them. What will be served, and who will be there? In other words, we’ll gladly come if we’re likely to have a good time.

But Christians often mistakenly treat this as some unworthy hedonistic impulse to be restrained rather than embracing it as a God-given desire of people made in His Image. The Creator makes no such mistake, which is why Jesus opens His ministry by rescuing a wedding celebration, repeatedly uses a feast to represent heaven, and finishes His ministry with a dinner party.

Rather than trying to squelch our bodily love for food, wine, and companionship, we should enjoy them for their own sake even as we anticipate the greater, truer food, wine, and companionship that these earthly pleasures point towards. Both in heaven and on Earth, Jesus loves a good party.